As others have emphasized, the scene you will likely remember from this Billy the Kid film is the murder trial of Billy Carson(Buster Crabbe). This is the most hilarious courtroom scene you are likely to see this side of The Three Stooges. Comical character actor Emmett Lynn, as the judge, is in the center of the comedy, but his interactions with his(uncredited) bossy wife standing beside him and with Fuzzy(Al St. John), also standing near him, are an important part of the comedy......Chief villain Barlow(Charles King)accuses Billy of murdering Barlow's hired gun Rusty Bradford(Frank Ellis). The problem is that Barlow arrived a little too late to witness what actually happened. Billy claims he shot Bradford in self -defense, as Branford was about to shoot him. The judge sides with Billy's story. However, he sentences Billy to 30 days in jail for "disturbing the peace", a trumped up charge designed to keep Billy safe from assassination. Incidentally, a furious fight with Bradford preceded the shooting. Unfortunately, keeping Billy in jail turned out to be a bad idea, as in his absence, Barlow's gang step up their depredations. Thus, the judge releases Billy early........First item on his agenda is Ma and Pat Clark's big problem. Barlow gave an advance on buying their cattle. But his henchmen stole their cattle in the meanwhile. Thus, they have no money to repay his advance, and he is threatening to foreclose on their ranch. They need a miracle, and it comes in the form of several sacks of gold dust that Fuzzy retrieved from his gold mine with Billy. Their gold mine had been taken over by Barlow in Billy's absence, but Billy plus Fuzzy scared the claim jumpers away before retrieving their hidden stash of gold. After giving the gold to Ma, she took it to Barlow, who was satisfied. But Billy followed close behind her, and entered through a window, after she left. He stuck up Barlow, demanding the sacks of gold , which he claimed Ma had stolen from him. Meanwhile, Fuzzy led some of Ma's hands to hold up the stage, and asked for the money being sent to Barlow. This they received, and took it to Ma's Circle C ranch. There, they met Billy, who made himself up as a Mexican, calling himself Jose Gonzales Billy took Barlow's stolen money and headed to town to talk to Barlow and his friend Taylor. He offered to buy their stolen cattle for $20./head(a good price for non-stolen cattle!). It was a $40,000. deal. Barlow agreed to the terms and Jose(Billy) gave a down payment, with the remainder due upon receipt of the cattle. Barlow sent several hands to help drive the cattle and receive the rest of the money. However, near the cattle, Jose stuck up Barlow's henchmen. Luckily, Fuzzy arrived, with the sheriff and posse, and took the men to jail. But one got away and rode to tell Barlow that Jose was Billy. Strangely, the 2000 stolen cattle are not further mentioned. Billy rides to town to talk to Barlow, who has a trap set for Billy. See the movie, available at YouTube, to find out the finale. At the end, Billy is standing next to cute blond Frances Gladwin(Pat Clark), suggesting a possible romantic future.
6 Reviews
Crackerbarrel Judge
bkoganbing10 June 2012
One of the more enjoyable of the PRC Billy the Kid westerns was Frontier Outlaws where Buster Crabbe and Al St. John are fighting to protect the Circle C ranch along with the other ranchers from the depredations of Jack Ingram and Charles King, a pair of veteran B picture western heavies. The accent is definitely on the comedy and not just from Al St. John.
The Circle C is owned by Marin Sais and Frances Gladwin, mother and daughter. Sais is a frontier woman in the tradition of Marjorie Main and she's a pip in her part.
But the best in the film is character actor Emmett Lynn who plays a cracker barrel frontier judge, a kindler gentler version of Judge Roy Bean. He and Mais have a thing for each other, but just can't quite commit.
Definitely one of the better Billy the Kid features.
The Circle C is owned by Marin Sais and Frances Gladwin, mother and daughter. Sais is a frontier woman in the tradition of Marjorie Main and she's a pip in her part.
But the best in the film is character actor Emmett Lynn who plays a cracker barrel frontier judge, a kindler gentler version of Judge Roy Bean. He and Mais have a thing for each other, but just can't quite commit.
Definitely one of the better Billy the Kid features.
Great character actors
peter-cossey18 July 2014
Bargain basement stuff, but lifted to a very enjoyable level by some lovely character acting. Charlie King is a quintessential 'heavy'; Fuzzy doesn't do much in this one, but Buster Crabbe excels himself when he goes undercover in the shape of a Mexican bandit leader, and plays it with an easy charm that contrasts with his rather bland 'Billy Carson' persona. The highlight though is the stand-out performance of Emmett Lynn as the befuddled judge - it's what classic Hollywood character acting is all about, and his bizarre cameo is touched with genius. Just one pedantic note: this is not a 'Billy the Kid' offering - it is the second film in the follow-on 'Billy Carson' series.
Marin Sais
boblipton13 April 2020
Buster Crabbe is looking for cattle rustlers. It turns out that it's that old plot of the local banker using cattle rustling to line his pockets and to drive the ranches he holds mortgages on out of business. Al St. John in a beard is the comic relief. He is carrying on an unwilling affair with Marin Sais. It's a barebones plot done on your typical PRC budget, so there's little to note, except that it starts with some action, continues with action, and ends that way too. Director Sam Newfield knew what his audience wanted at their Saturday matinees.
Jimmy Aubrey is also present, playing a bar fly, but Miss Sais has a substantial role. She had worked for Kalem more than 30 years earlier, playing in their action firl movies, and comedies like Walk -- You Walk!. She had the leading lady roles in some Hoot Gibson westerns, and some with Jack Hoxie, her husband for the first half of the 1920s. She had left the movies in 1929, but returned four years later, often in unbilled roles or cheaper productions. Her last screen appearance as in 1953. She died in 1971, aged 81.
Jimmy Aubrey is also present, playing a bar fly, but Miss Sais has a substantial role. She had worked for Kalem more than 30 years earlier, playing in their action firl movies, and comedies like Walk -- You Walk!. She had the leading lady roles in some Hoot Gibson westerns, and some with Jack Hoxie, her husband for the first half of the 1920s. She had left the movies in 1929, but returned four years later, often in unbilled roles or cheaper productions. Her last screen appearance as in 1953. She died in 1971, aged 81.
Great Serious Western Comedy
hines-20001 June 2020
It's a great battle of Billy The Kid (Buster Crabbe) versus Charlie "Blackie" King who must've fought more cowboy stars than any other sceen heavy. But the other part of the story is "Fuzzy" St. John, Marin Sais and Emmett Lynn providing outstanding comic relief. All this plus a great supporting cast including Jack Ingram, Kermit Maynard and Frances Gladwin. It's hard riding, hard laughing and great suspense to see who gets the Circle C Ranch. Bonus: look for the blopper after Buster robs King. That may be the hardest hit and biggest laugh of the movie.
Billy Carson's Finest Hour
FightingWesterner12 September 2009
Frontier Outlaws is an enjoyable, lightning fast episode in Producers Releasing Corporation's Billy Carson series.
In this, Carson kills a gunslinger sent to do him in by Mr. Barlow, the crooked town boss and finds himself pursued by vigilantes. He cheats the posse by turning himself in to the proper authorities. Once released, Carson goes to war against the deeply entrenched Barlow.
Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy" St. John are in fine form here, with a better than average script and excellent support from Marin Sais as a feisty old lady rancher and Emmett Lynn as the comical presiding judge at Billy's trial.
Near the end, Crabbe gets a chance to show off his acting skills as Billy impersonates a Mexican cowboy to get close to the villains.
Also memorable is Buster Crabbe's on-set accident where he bangs his head loudly while climbing through an open window. It looks rather painful!
In this, Carson kills a gunslinger sent to do him in by Mr. Barlow, the crooked town boss and finds himself pursued by vigilantes. He cheats the posse by turning himself in to the proper authorities. Once released, Carson goes to war against the deeply entrenched Barlow.
Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy" St. John are in fine form here, with a better than average script and excellent support from Marin Sais as a feisty old lady rancher and Emmett Lynn as the comical presiding judge at Billy's trial.
Near the end, Crabbe gets a chance to show off his acting skills as Billy impersonates a Mexican cowboy to get close to the villains.
Also memorable is Buster Crabbe's on-set accident where he bangs his head loudly while climbing through an open window. It looks rather painful!
See also
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